Armrest construction



C. P. LILJENGREN ARMREST CONSTRUCTION Aug. 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1952 FlG.l

FIG.2

r y o n r r e T n m A e n U L P .8 I. r u C m 9 M 4 m a I a In a a I mWM 4% Aug. 13, 1957 c. P. LILJENGREN ARMREST coNs'rRucTmN 2 Sheets-SheetFiled D60. 23, 1952 FIG.5

FIG.4

five/71w Curtis F? Liljengren ,v a, W W

Uflited ta e am 1 Claim. (Cl. 155-198) assignor, by direct and AircraftCorporation,

This invention relates to a chair or seat arm-rest construction, and itsgeneral object is. to; providenew and improved means for readilysecuringa coveringor shell in position upon the arm-rest framework.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a sidearm-rest cap that in assembling the same on the framework covering asimple one-step operation is involved, the structure of the capinherently coacting with the framework covering to. provide/forinterlocking without requiring additional securing means, and yetwhichcap can be removed for replacement, if so desired, by a simplereversal of the assembling step.

It is a further important object to provide simple means for supportingthe transversely flat, longitudinally curved peripheral portion of theframework covering on the cylindrical surface of the rod stock of whichthe framework is comprised.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a means thatwill have universal application in supporting relatively flat surfaceson relatively round or cylindrical surfaces.

With these and other more detailed objects in view, the arm-restconstruction embodies the provision of elements, which for short I willcall ox-bows, for cooperative association with the endless rod of theframe of the rest to provide relatively flat support surfaces, therebeing a unitary cover piece which fits over the framework and ox-bowsand is secured in place by screws connected to the bottom rod of theframe. A cap is slid over the upper surfaces of the cover piece and byits self-indexing action finally reaches a close relationship with thecover piece which is resistant to accidental removal without requiringthe provision of conventional securing means.

More specific details of the invention are described hereinafter.

The invention is therefore illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the seat unit side frame with theouter shell removed so as to better disclose the tubular frame showingone form of the invention utilizing the yokes shownin Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view with the shell added andtaken substantially along the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the arm restsupporting framing yokes;

Fig. 4 is a perspective showing of a modified form of yoke essentiallyconsisting of a pair of opposed yokes as shown in Fig. 3 joined togetheras by a weld;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the planeof line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the framing structure of the arm-rest isshown best in Fig. 1. In the preferred embodiment shown, the structureis composed of light gauge, high strength steel tubing and includes anarm-rest frame structure shown generally at 1 which includes an endlesselement having a nearly horizontal upper support member or bar 2 whichis diagonally downwardly and forwardly bent at its front end to form thefront support member 3, which member connects with the horizontalportion 4,

the upright portion 5 connecting the aft ends of bars orf rods 2 and 4.

An improved means and method of installing'the armrests is shown inFigs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. An oxebow oryoke 6 is drawn from thin gaugemetal into the approxi- The side panel 9 may be formed from twoidentical metal.

mate shape, illustrated in Fig. 3, thefiange 7 serving to stiffen theyoke throughout. The arch 8 thus formed mates perfectly with the sideframe tubing 2, or other. substantially cylindrical member, as shown inFig. 2.1

pans 10 having top flanges 11 and bottom flanges 12. connecting strip13. attached to the pans by rivets 14 cornpletes the metal shell. Ofcourse, the shell can be of substantially one-piece construction open atthe bottom. for encasing the side arm-rest frames, in which case thebottom flanges 12 would be inturned when in position and secured byscrews 15 to the. tubular'element 4. The oxbows or yokes 6 are rivetedinto the metal shell at strategic places as shown in Fig. 1 servingto'position the shell upon the side frame. structure 1. Sheet metalscrews, 15 installed through the. bottom flanges 12 ofthe metal pan andinto the side. frame structure 4 secure the shell firmly in place. Theox-bows or yokes 6 serve to square up the light sheet metal boxstructure acting as gussets and distributing the surface loads over arelatively large area of the metal cover 9. In addition, the abovedescribed panel is self-indexing on the arm framing structure andeliminates the need for accurate tooling to provide interchangeabilityof panels between the seats. The construction above described may beadapted for the installation of leg trim panels and generally to similaruses in other fields of manufacture.

A modified form of ox-bow is shown in Figures 4 and 5. This embodimentincludes a pair of oX-bows 6 in opposing relationship and joined, as byweld, along abutting edges at 16. Figure 5 shows the cross-sectionwhereby the ox-bow provides maximum strength per unit weight of materialwhile providing a means for supporting fiat surfaced elements onsubstantially cylindrically surfaced elements.

The side panel structure above described may be covered with suitablearm-rest padding (not shown) so as to also serve as an arm-rest or anoptional arm-rest cap 17 may be formed with a channel typecross-sectional shape as shown in Fig. 2, the channel fitting closelyover the side panel structure and attached by sliding from front to rearso that the portion 18 is turned back from the vertical tangential planeat AA and the flange 19 is pressed downwardly over the upper rear cornerportion of the frame structure for thus holding the cap in position onthe side panel without requiring screws although the same may beemployed, if desired, for added safety. Again, the installation of suchan arm-rest cap requires only a minimum of tooling since this unit isself-indexing. Installation and removal is very simple, since anyholddown screws that may be employed are externally accessible.

Reference may be had to my prior Patent 2,702,071 issued February 15,1955, which shows a seat construction for which the present invention isespecially adapted although it will be understood that the invention maybe utilized in other seat constructions or in fact wherever it isdesired to support a relatively'flat surface upon a cylindrical support.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claim rather than bythe description preceding them and all changes that fall with- A framingstructure for supporting an arm-rest of a chair, which comprises avertically'disposed substantially endless tubular frame of curved crosssection and a frame" covering shell over the frame, said frame coveringshell having an inner surface which is substantially fiat, a hollowcupped adapter engaging said inner surface having a flattop withmarginal vertically extending sides including a bottom forming theadapter into an ox-bow shape provided with a central upwardly extendingarch section whose curvature at the top of the arch is predetermined tomate with the curvature of the tube of the frame when the adapter issaddled transversely on the tubular frame and Whose bottom projectionsbetween which the arch is located terminate in curves reverse to thecurvature of the arch for centering the adapter when it is appliedstraddlingly to the tubular frame While spacing the sides of the framecovering shell from the frame.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS .D.47,897 Ruggles Sept. 28, 1915 325,026 Thomas Aug. 25, 1885 365,362 BurtJune 28, 1887 I 4 .7 V Cadman Feb. 8, Harris Nov. 25, Manahan July 14,Budd July 10, Budd June 8, Willard Oct. 15, Hill Sept. 4, Kilburn Jan.8, Icknroth Feb. 20, Hansen Mar. 16, Gibbs Apr. 10, Leach et a1 Sept.11,. Marshall Nov. 3,

" Hottel .."Dec.' 8, ,Wolpert' Sept. 27, Frey May 21, Nelems June 4,Owler July 22, McArthur -Ju1y 6," Mulder Jan. 17, Black; Mar. 7, BartonJune 13, Havel July 22,- Stratton Dec. 23,

FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Sept. 1,

